Teeth Implants for Older Adults
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
“Am I too old to fix implant teeth?”
This is a common question for many aged persons who lost their permanent teeth due to aging. It is not unusual that people lose their teeth after the age of 60. Moreover, aged people develop cavities, gum diseases because of the compromised tissues in the oral cavity.
Such oral difficulties arise with advancing age also tend to weaken the teeth. This pushes the elderly people to get replacements like dentures to continue their diet routines.
You might see at least one senior citizen with denture teeth. Right?
On the other hand, dental implants are the healthy artificial structure that has higher longevity and works better than dentures. Many people doubt whether implant teeth work effectively for elderly persons like they do for young adults.
YES. Dental Implants can be a better teeth replacement solution for older people too.
What does a dentist consider to implant teeth for aged patients?
Age is not a contraindication for fixing implants in elders but planning dental implant treatments for senior citizens involves a lot of considerations like biological, clinical, socio-economic criteria, and much more.
This is because of the age-related changes in body and dental health perplex the implant dentistry treatments in aged persons. Here are the common considerations are taken into account to avoid repercussions:
- A thorough dental checkup is essential to diagnose the underlying dental disorders beginning the treatment. As the tissues in the mouth of aged persons tend to wither with aging, it aids in bacteria build-up that intervene in the dental treatments. Fixing implant teeth is not an exception.
- Bone density is mandatory for implant posts to support the artificial teeth. As the bone density is quite low for elder people, an implantologist check this to detect whether a grafting procedure is needed to enhance bone volume.
- Medications taken to combat chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and others will weaken the immune system. So the implant treatment is planned per the medicines an elder citizen is taking.
What are the dental implant options available for aged persons?
As mentioned earlier, age does not determine the type of implants a patient need. Apart from the above-discussed factors, an implant specialist chooses the implant type concerning the number of missing teeth.
You might aware of the implant fixed to replace a single missing tooth. In contrast, you don’t need to fix implants for every missing tooth.
For instance, if a person lost all teeth in his lower arch, an implant-retained hybrid bridge(containing 10 to 12 teeth) can replenish the missing teeth. The fake teeth bridge is embedded with 4 or 6 implants. This is clinically termed as “All on 4 dental implants” or “All on 6 dental implants“.
Likely, one can fix many missing teeth or entire dentition with such implant-supported dentures also. It is apt for elders as well as adults.
Bottom line
Dental implants can be the artificial teeth for older adults and a permanent restoration for missing teeth and have higher longevity than other teeth replacement solutions. As it performs like the natural teeth and restore the chewing forces, smile aesthetics and preserve the underlying bone in the jaw.
However, aged persons refuse implants as they doubt the success rates of implants because of their age.
Our answer to such questions is no one is too age for getting teeth implants to replace any number of teeth.
